All Natural Birth Control Options
By: Julie Fletcher
In centuries past, women relied on home-made preparations to reduce their risk of pregnancy. In today’s economy the price for over the counter birth control may be out of reach for some women who wish to remain childless, if only for a short time. Most home brewed birth control mixes are easily put together and the ingredients are available in local grocery stores.The following recipes and/or directions are for methods personally used by the author. Do not consider this medical advice or consider these methods 100% effective.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is probably the most effective of the non-prescription methods to reduce your risk of becoming pregnant. Recently recognized by science as a valid form of spermicidal, lemon juice aims to kill much of the fertile sperm during a sexual encounter. It also has an added benefit of eliminating certain viruses and bacteria introduced into the vagina.
To use-*In the tests used by scientists, a ratio of 20% lemon juice was used, diluted by water. The author prefers a stronger solution to increase effectiveness. *Mix 1 part lemon juice, fresh or bottled, with 1 part water. Use either as a douche before and after sex or soak a sponge and insert into the vagina. Remove after sex and throw away.
Vitamin C
Where lemon juice creates an unfriendly environment in the vagina for sperm, Vitamin C causes the uterus to become unfriendly to any fertilized egg and reduce the chance of implantation. This is much like the birth control pill, but Vitamin C will also cause the womb to shed its’ lining. This is useful if your period is a day or so late due to stress or other non-pregnancy related reasons. Do Not Use if you suspect you are pregnant. Use of this vitamin according to the directions for birth control during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy can cause a miscarriage.
*While this may seem like a good idea to try for those seeking to end an unwanted pregnancy, please remember- causing a miscarriage can result in severe internal bleeding and death.*
To Use As A Contraceptive
For 3 days after unprotected sex take 1000 mg of Vitamin C, twice daily. Pure Vitamin C, no combinations. As long as you have no signs of pregnancy, (see some of our articles on early pregnancy symptoms), take another round of Vitamin C the week before your period is due.
Queen Anne’s Lace
Also known as Wild Carrot. This natural contraceptive is used by chewing the seeds or ingesting the oil. Follow the directions provided on packaging or by a knowledgeable seller. If you are unfamiliar with herbs in the wild, do not try to collect yourself, as confusion with poisonous members of this plant family will cause sickness and death.
All forms of birth control come with a risk. Before using any of these, decide how ready you are for a possible pregnancy. No method, excluding abstinence and sterilization, is foolproof. This includes over the counter and prescription contraceptives.